Vaporization control for liquid fuel burners



Sept. l0, 1940. y L. s. cHADwlcK ET'AL 2,214,403

vAPoRIzAfrIoN CONTROL yFOR LIQUID FUEL BURNERS Filed April 21, 1937 2 sheets-sheet 1v |"1r -'h l I k-nono Lf?? Mmk MM ATTORNEYS Sept. 10, 1940. L. s. cHADwlcK ET AL VAPORIZATION CONTROL LIQUID FUEL BURNERS 2 *Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 2l, 1937 n INVENTORS,

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 10, 1940 g UNITED 2,214,403.. ff] r vAPoRIzATIoN CONTROL' Fonifmomn i FUELVBURNEVRS i. j

' Lee s. Chadwick, siiaiier Heights, :indemnes J. Kessler, Cleveland'I-Ieights, Ohio, assignorsfto` Perfection. Stove Company', Cleveland, 0h10, a

corporation of Ohio Application April 2i, 193i, serial No; .138,168

This invention relates to liquid fuel burners, and more particularly to thosey of 'the so-called pot or bowl variety wherein vapors are generated kfrom a pool of fuel maintained rin the bottom fthek 5 bowl, by heat produced by the'burner, andA mix with air admitted to the bowl toform acombustible gas. f f l Scientifica-ily developed burners of this variety are designed to consume a predetermined amount;

of fuel of a given Volatility-in aldenite periodiof time according to the setting of a meteringvalve that controls the owfof fuel `.to the bowl. Further, these burners are intended to operate eine. ciently and'economically under these conditions 15 withpractically complete combustion so as to.

produ-ce. a clean fire,irelatively free'from carbon. These favorable conditions, however, are destroyed if a fuel is used that differs perceptibly in volatility from that Wherewithl the burner was designed for use. 'Y

With prevailing burnersjof thefclass described,

' if fuel that ismore volatile than .that yprescribed for use with the burner is employed :thereris an excess of vapors, resulting in incomplete combustion, lower efficiency, smoky 'fire and consequently an undue-accumulation of carbon in the burn er; and if a heavier and less volatile fuel'than that prescribed is used there is an insufliciency of vapor, resulting in a slower rate of combustion or vfuel consumption, although therefwill be relatively` complete combustion-and clean :r,e. HIn

both of these instances vof abnormal conditions,

however, the thermal eflciencyzis lessV than would bethe case if the burner were operating under normalr conditions with the gradeof fuel intended. -I

A broad purpose of our invention is to provide,

in a liquidffuel burner,- means'for administering' a cooling medium to a part ofthe burner that is 40 in heat exchanging relationto the fuel thereby to control the ytemperature and consequently the vaporization of the-fuel. By virtueI thereof, fuelsv of different volatility may be burned efficiently,

veconomically and satisfactorily, and at the `de- Y sired rate of combustion or fuel consumption.

\ provide aburner of the pot or bowlf'variety with means for varying'the. temperature -of a part of the burner. that -is in intimate heat exchanging 50 rrelation to the'fuel (such part, inthe embodiment herein disclosed, beingthe vbottom portion of the pot or bowl) according to the grade of fuel employed, so as Ato maintain the intended rate of y vaporization. .Y 55 A still morelimited object of our inventionis ent grades offuel.N Y 1 A more `specific Vobject' of our-inventionis to to combine with a pot or bowl type burner, means for distributing 'the airsuppliedthereto for combustion purposes'in variousrelations tothe pot or Ibowl s`o as to alter its cooling influence thereon `andithereby controlthe temperature ofthe pot '5' or bowl and consequently the temperature and vaporization of the fuel".

Afurther object-isy to providea simple damper arrangement, thatis practically .immune `from disorder,`lfor controlling the.` pf'issa'gev of `air 1'0 through different courses'to theburner, the vapor generating function ofthe burnerdepending upongtheapportionment ofthe air tosaid different courses; f i. 1 'f'- 'f 'A-*further objectis lto `Vprovidefa -construction 15 for such adamper that is` adapted to standard stove oonstructionjand may be simply and eco= nomically incorporated therein.'

l lA still-further objectofthe inventionvis,topror videy anad'justing leverfor the damper that is 20 yconvenient of installation and manipulation and 'that' desirably 'includes' anwindicator which, in `association With'a suitable scaleor the like, designates the setting-ofthedamper :for the differ- Thej foregoing objects, withothers hereinafter appearing, are-'attained inthe embodiment of` the l i invention illustrated Vin the accompanying drawings,- wherein lik'efreference rcharacters, designate corresponding parts throughout the several-views; 30

In the drawings, Fig." 1 lis*a,fragmentary.side

' elevation of afliquid fuel heatingstove incorporating our inventionfFig'. 2 is ay transversev vertical section through'the -lower portion of the stovegithe'plane of' sectionlbeing staggeredv as 35 v Vindicatedby theline 2-2-fofffFig. 3; Fig.- 3 is a vfragmentary *bottom plan ,.view: yof the stove;

' "g.f'4is'a perspectivevieW-fof the 'damper roperating lever with -abfr-agment of the damper. plate associated therewith, and Figi is `a fragmentary perspective view 'of Ythe detachedleven operating member. 'i' f Thev s'tovestructure with which we have shown our improvements associated includesza' cylindrical drum! that is mounted on a base Zsupported asuitable -distance fr'orn the floor by a front-'leg 3 and rear legs.y Thieserparts arelconstructed of sheetmetalvofssuitablegauge-and are fastened together by welding or any other approved means. The interior of the drum I is separated into a. combustion `chamberSand anair chamber 6 by .a horizontally disposed partition designated vgenerallyby thelnumerall.. ;Thisfpartition consistsof an annulus- .8, having` a lperipheral flange that. is welded or otherwise lfastened to thedrum,

and a ring-like member 9 that is attached by bolts I0 to said anulus, and whose inner edge is flanged downwardly to form a neck II. The member 9 is permanently secured, by rivets I2, to the annular top wall I3 of a burner` pot or bowl I5. The body portions of the rivets I2 space the member 9 from the top Wall I3 of the burner bowl, and the inner edge of said top wall is turned downwardly slightly to form a lip I6 that is in spaced relation to the neck II. A passage I1 is thus provided between the member 9 and the top wall of the burner bowl throughrwhich secondary air may enter the bowl from the lsurrounding air chamber B, such air being deflected downwardly into the bowl by the neck II. Socalled primary air is admitted to the interior of the bowl from said chamber through perforations I8 and I9 in the peripheral wall of thebowl."

The bottom wall of the bowl is shown as formed by a pipe 2I from a receptacle 22 with which the pipe communicates through a metering valve 23,

adapted to be operatedV by a handle 24. A reservoir 25 is suitably supported inan inverted posi-` tion over the receptacle 25 and the outlet thereof is liquid sealed in said receptacle in accordance with common practice. By this well known expedient a maximum liquid level is `established in the burner bowl or sump, the same being indicated bythe line A.- Access is had to theinterior of the burner bowl I5 for lighting and clean-out-purposes through a forwardlyprojecting sleeve 28. A plug (not shown) lits within the sleeve 28 and forms a closure therefor, and the same is adapted to be reached through an opening in the frontof the stove structure normally closed by a door 29. `Air is also supplied to the central interior of the burner bowl through an air tube30 that opens through the bottom of the bowl and has a perforated cap 3l applied to its upper end. l r

The structure thus far described is, generally speaking, that of a standard type of liquid fuel heating stove and constitutes vno part of the present invention except as it enters into the cornbination; and its operation,.briey,'is as follows: With the metering valve 23'set, by means rof the handle 24, to maintain a re of the desired intensity, fuel will flow -fromthe receptacle 22 through the valve 23 and pipe 2| to the burner bowl, attaining 'L level therein indicated by the line A. To light the burner, the door`29 is opened and the previously mentioned plug (not shown) is removed from the sleeve 28'and a lighted match, taper orv other igniting means is entered `through the sleeve to ignite the fuel in the sump 20, after which the plug is replaced and the door 29 closed. As combustion progresses,V the fuel is more rapidly vapor-ized and the vapors commingle with primary air entering through the perforations I8 4and I9 to form a rich mixture which, when joined by the secondary air entering through the passage I1, burns with a clean flame that rises through the neck I I. into the combustion chamber 5. Very soon after the burner Ais lighted, the oil level recedes to a very low point on account` of ,the increased rate of evaporation due, in part, to the relatively.highftemperature of the bottom of the burner bowl or pot, and operation proceeds in a normal fashion.

If liquid fuel is employed having a volatility suited to the operating temperature of the burner, practically complete combustion is obtained resulting in a clean and"e`flicient re. As previously pointed out, however, if a lighter or more volatile fuel is used, there is an excess of vapors, resulting in incomplete combustion, lower efficiency, smoky `the burner.r

From the foregoing description of the operation of the burner it will be evident that vaporiza- 't'ion of the fuel may be controlled or, in other `words, differences in the volatility of various grades of fuel may be compensated for, by changing the temperature of the burner, or, more specically, Vby altering the temperature of the bottom wall of the burner bowl. Our present invention provides means for attaining this result, and such means, as herein disclosed for illustrative purposes, will now be described.

Secured, as by screws 35, to the inturned upper end 36 of a cylindrical portion of the base, over which the bottom` of the drum I is engaged,'is a stationary damper plate 40, the edge portion of which is turned downwardly and then hanged outwardly to correspondY inrcross section generally with the adjacent portion of the base 2. This stationary burner platehas an outerseries of segmental openings 40a, and an inner series of similar-openingswb, and mounted upon said plate ybetween said series of openings is an annular partition 42 that sustains a dish-shaped baille 43 is provided with va notch 45 for the acly, the shape of the bottom wall of the burner bowl I5. The plate 40 has a slot 44 and the baffle 43-is provided with a notch 45 for th accommodation vof that section of the pip 2| that is welded or otherwise permanently connected to the burnerbowl. Buttons rMi,- that may be riveted or otherwise secured to the plate 40, depend from said plate and support a movable damper plate 5D, having arcuate kkeyhole slots 5I through'which the buttons 46 are engaged. Obviously, the movable damper plate may be attachedto the stationary damper' plate by engaging theA enlarged ends of its slots 5I over the buttons 46 and turning the plate 50 to dispose the buttons out of registerA with the enlarged ends of the slots; andto prevent the platev50' from being turned to a-rposition to align the buttons with theenlarged ends of the slots, a stop 52 depends vfrom the stationary burner plate and occupies'one of the slots vbetween the enlarged end thereof and the corresponding button 46. The. movable damper plate 50- has an outer seriesof segmental openings 5I)a and an inner series of similar openings 5I)b that are spaced radially from the center of the damper plates like distances, respectively, with the series of openings 4Ila and 4Gb ofthe stationary damper plate 40. The openings of the two plates are so related that when the corresponding ones of the outer series of bothplatesare inregister with each other, the corresponding ones of theinner series of the two plates are outfof register, and vice versa, these conditions being attained when the movable damper plate is at the extreme limits of its movement; and whenI in any position intermediate said limits, the openings of both series of the two plates are in overlapping relation, the extent to which they overlap being determined bythe adjustment of the movable 75 damper plate. If the combined area or capacity of the openings of the respective inner and outer series be equal, the total amountl of air passing through the damper will remain constant regardless of the damper adjustment; but` if it were found advantageous to vary the amount of combustion air for different' grades offuel, this may be accomplishedby making the area or'capacity of the openings ofthe two series vdiierent and of the proper ratio- Y A stud 55 is secured to anddepen'dsfrom the center of the stationary damper'platel and passes through an aperture 'in the depressed central portion 56 of the damperv plate 50 and e has journaled on its-therebelow the inner end of an operating lever 51, shown in perspective in Fig. Ll.l A portion 58 of the lever 51 accurately fits within the enlarged end of Va `Tshaped notch 53 that is formed in the downturned peripheral flange 66 of the damper plate 50, and

to facilitate the linsertion of the lever -withlnL the notch, the former is reduced in width adjacent the portion 58 to form a neck 6|, the neck being sufficiently less in widthfthan the narrower part of the notch 59 vto. permit it to be readily engaged through said narrow part f so i4as to register the-portion 58 ofthe lever with the wider portion of the notch thereby permitting the-lever to be inovedfradially inwardly with respect tothe plate until .the opening 62 at its inner end is in a positionto b'e engaged over the stud 55. The inner end of the leveris held tightly against the adjacent' portion`56 of the movable damper' plate, and the portion of said'A plate outwardly beyond its depressed portion`56 is held in iirm frictional engagement with the damper plate 40, by a spring 63 that surrounds the stud 55 and is compressed between the lever 51 and an abutment -64 which may consist of la washer. that is 'held to the end ofthe stud by a screw'65. The outer" end portion of the lever is turned `downwardly-'and thencef outwardly and terminates ina central index pointer 66 and laterally spaced upturned lugs 61, the'forme'r projecting through a slot 2a in the side'of the base 2 for association with certain indicia that is carried bythe base adjacent the Vslot and consisting, inthe present instance, of the words "Light-Medium-Heavy-OilsJi The space between the aforesaid lugs 61 is in axial alignment with an opening 68 in the downturned portion of the lever. By inserting the end of a channel bar 1E] (Figs. 2 and 5) through the slot 2e and between the lugs 61 and into the slot 68 of the lever, the lever mayv be operated to adjust the movable'damper plate 50 with respect to. the' stationary damper vplate 40 so as to effect the desired relation of the openings of the two plates.v n

When the lever is swung to the left, as the parts are viewed in Fig. 1, or toward the marking on the base that indicates an adjustment of the damperv that renders the stove suitable for use with light fuels, the openings 4U and 5f!a are -out @of register with one another and the openings lightand more volatile fuel. By moving the lever to the opposite end of the slot' adjacent the markingv indicating heavyoil, the openings l0b and 5l)b are closed, and the openings 40 and 5l]a are brought into complete lregistration which causes all air entering th-echamber 6 to take the course ofthe dotted line arrowsInthis caseonly an insignificant portion of :the air that enters the chamber 6 will find its 'way between the baille 43 and the bottom wall ofthe burner bowl to satisfy 'the demands ofthe air tube 30,' wherefore the bottom wall of the burner may attain its highest temperature which is required intheivaporization of the vheavier fuel. When` the adjusting leveris in intermediate position, as illustrated in the drawings. the openings ofthe two series of both plates are in partial registration, as indicated iny Fig. B, so that Ythe Iair is divided substantially equally between the two courses indicated'by the full and dotted line arrows, thus causing the bottom of theburner bowl to be kept at a moderate'temperature 4such as is suitable for the proper vaporization of a medium grade oil. r

Having thusv described our invention, whatwe claimis: f r

1. In a liquid fuel burnena. burner bowlfhaving means for admitting air theretmeans for delivering fuel to thebowl, means defining two passages for the air suppli-ed'to thebowl; one of -said passages conducting 'the-air' in more intimate lheat exchanging relation than the `other to a part of the bowl whose'temperature iniiuences the vaporizationfof the fuel, and an adjustable means for variably apportioning the air to the two passages; Y'

2. In a liquid fuel stove including an air chamber, a burner bowl -situated therein and arranged to receive combustion vrair therefrom, and 'means for delivering liquid Afuel to the'ibowlymeans defining twopassages for the air admittedto said chamber, one :of said passages conducting the air in more intimateheat exchanging relation than the other to a part of lthebowl whose temperaturefinuenc'esthevaporization of the fuel, and damper means common to both passages for simultaneously controlling the admission of air thereto. Y

3.*In a liquid fuel stove including an air chamber, a burner bowl situated therein and arranged to receive combustion air therefrom, and means for delivering liquidfuel to'the bowl; a stationary i damper plate constituting a i wall of 'i said chamber, a movable damper plate sustainedin operative relationy to thezformer damperplate', the damper plates having twoseries of cooperating air openings so related that lwhenA thelmovable damper plate is shifted to close the openings of either-series those of the other'series will Vbe opened, and means defining twov passages arranged to receive air, respectively, from the two series of openings, one of said passages conducting the' air 'inmore intimate heatfexchangingv relation than the othert'oa part'of the burner bowl-Whose temperature inuences the vaporization of the fuel.

4. In a liquid fuel stove including an air vchamber, a burner bowl-situated therein and arranged to receive combustion` air therefrom, and means forv delivering liquid' fuel to the'bowl; a stationary damper plate constituting a wall of said chamber,v ya movable damper plate-sustained in operative relation to the former damper plate,

z the damper platesy having two series `of cooperat-y ing air openings sorrelated that when the movable damper plate is shifted to close the openings of either series those of the other series will be opened, means defining two passages arranged to receive air, respectively, from the two series of openings, one of saidvpassages conducting the air in more intimate heat exchanging relation than the other to a part of the burner bowl whose temperature influences the vaporization of the fuel, means for adjusting the movable damper plate, and an indicator associated therewith for designating the different positions of damper ad- ,iustment 5. In a liquid fuel stove including an air chamber, a burner bowl situated'therein and arranged to receive combustion air therefrom, and means for delivering liquid fuel to the bowl; a stationary damper plate constituting the bottom wall of the air chamber and having an outer series of openings and an inner series of openings, a movable damper plate connected to the stationary damper plate for rotary movement and having corresponding series of openings for cooperation with the openings of the stationary damper plate, all series of openings being substantially concentric to the axis 4of rotation of the movable damper plate, the openings being so arranged and related that those of one series are closed when those of the otherseries are open, and vice versa, whereby the openings of both plates of the two series are in overlapped relation when the movable damper plate occupies any position between its two extreme positions, an annular partition rising from the stationary damper plate between the inner and Outer series of openings, a baffle supported by said partition in spaced relation to the bottom wall of the burner bowl, said baffle having an opening inside the connesof said partition, and means for adjusting the movable damper plate.

6. In aliquid fuel stove including an air chamber, a burner bowl situated therein and arranged to receive combustion air therefrom, and means for delivering-liquid fuel to the bowl; a stationary damper plate constituting the bottomrwall of the air chamber and having an outer series of openings and an inner series of openings, a movable damper plate connected to the stationary damper plate for rotary motion with respect thereto and having corresponding series of openings for cooperation with the openings of the stationary damper plate, allseries of openings being substantially concentric to the axis of rotation of the movable damper plate, the openings being so arranged and related that when those of either series are closed those ofthe other series areopen and so that the openings of both plates of the two series are in overlapped relationl when the movablel damper plate occupies any position between itstwo extreme positions, an annular partition rising from the stationary damper plate between the inner and outer series of openings, a baille supported by said partition in spaced vrelation to the bottom wall of the burner bowl and having an opening within the confines of said partition, and a lever arranged to swing on the axis of rotation of the movable damper plate and having connection with said plate for adjusting it.

'7. In a liquid fuel stove including an air chamber, a. burner bowl situated therein and arranged to receive combustion air therefrom, and means for delivering liquid fuel tothe bowl; a stationary damper plate constituting the bottom wall of the air chamber and having an outer series of openings and an inner series of openings, a movable damper plate connected to the stationary damper plate for rotary motion and having corresponding series of openings for cooperation with the openings of the stationary Vdamper plate, all series of openings being substantially concentric to the axis of rotation of the movable damper plate, the openings being so arranged and related that w.ien'those of either series are closed those of the other series will be open and so that the openings of both plates of the two series are in overlapped relation when the movable damper plate occupies any position between its two extreme positions, an annular partition rising from the stationary damper plate between the inner and outer series of openings, a baille Lsupported bysaid partition in spaced relation to the bottom wall of the burner bowl and having an opening inside the confines of said partition, an adjusting lever supported to swing on the axis of rotation of the movable damper plate, a part of the movable damper plate adjacent its periphery being turned downwardly and having a T-shaped notch, the adjusting lever being reduced in width to form a neck adapted to be engaged through the narrow portion of said notch, which neck is out of register with the notch when the pivotal axis of the lever is coincident with the axis of rotation of the movable damper plate, the outer end of the lever being designed to receive a detached operating member. n

8. In aliquid fuelstove including an air chamber, a burner bowl situated therein and arranged to receive combustion air` therefrom, and means for delivering liquid fuel to the bowl; a stationary damper plate constituting the bottom wall of the air `chamber and having an outer series of openings and an inner series of openings,` a movable damper plate connected Vto the stationary damper platefor rotary movement and having corresponding series of openings for cooperation with the openings ,of the stationary damper plate, all series of openings being substantially concentric to the rotational axis of the movable damper plate, the openings being `so arranged and related that whenv those of either series are'closed those of the other series will be open and so that the openings of both plates of the two series are in overlapped relation when ythe movable damper plate occupies` any position between its two extreme positions, an annular partition rising from the stationary damper plate between the inner and outer series of openings, a baffle supported by said partition in spaced relation to the bottom wall` of the burner bowl and having an opening within the confines of said partition, an adjusting lever supported to swing on the rotational axis of the movable damper plate and connected to said plate, the outer end of the lever being provided with a pointer, and indicating means on the stove structure wherewith said pointer cooperates to designate the different positions of damper adjustment.

9. In aliquid fuel stove including an air chamber, a burner bowl situated therein and arranged tovreceive combustion air therefrom, and means for delivering liquidrfuel to the bowl; a stationary damperjplate constituting` a wall of the air chamber andhaving. twoseries of openings, a movable damper plate associated with the stationary damper plate and having corresponding series of openings for cooperation with the openings 4of the stationary damper plate, theopenings being so arranged and related that those of one series are closed when those of the other series are open, and vice versa, whereby the'openingsof both plates of the two series are in overlapped rel-ation when the movable damper plate 25 damper plate,

occupies any position between its two extreme positions, sages wherewith theopenings of the respective series communicate, the movable damper. plate having keyhole slots, and buttons carried by the stationary damper plate occupying said slots, the enlarged ends of the slots beingV ample to permit the passage of the buttons therethrough while the body portions of said slots.l are of less width than the buttons, and stop means for preventing the movable damper plate from assuming a position wherein the buttons register with the enlarsed ends of the slots.

10. In a liquid fuel stove including an air chamber, a burner bowl-A situated therein and arranged to receive combustion air therefrom, and means for delivering liquid fuel to the bowl; a stationary damper plate constituting the 'bottom wall of the'air chamber and having an outer series oi openings and an inner series of openings, a movable damper plate connected to the stationary damper plate for rotary movement and having corresponding series of openings for cooperation with the openings of the stationary all series of openings being subair directing means defining two passtantially concentricv to the rotational axis of the movable damper plate, the openings being so arranged andrelated that those of one series are closed when those ofthe other series are open, and viceversa, whereby the openingsof both plates of the two series are in overlapped rela#- tion when. the movable damper` plate occupies anyposition between its two extreme positions, air Vdirecting means rising from the stationary damper plate between the inner and outer series of openings and having its upper portion in spaced relation to the bottom wall of the burner bowl, the movable damper platehavlng arcuate keyhole slots, buttons carried' by the stationary damper plate occupying said slots, the enlarged ends'of the slots being ample to permit the passage of thebuttons therethrough while the body portions of said slots are of less vwidth than the buttons, andstop means depending from the stationary damper plate and occupying one of the slots intermediate the enlarged yend thereof and -the corresponding button.

LEE s. CHADWICK.

CHARLES J. KEssLER. 25 

